Keywords
animal, advocacy, connexion, agency, law, abolitionism
Abstract
Effective animal advocacy requires human-animal connexion. I apply a relational approach to unfold this insight into a praxis for animal advocates. Connexion grounds the affective relationships that so often motivate animal advocates. More importantly, it enables animal agency, the ability of animals to act and communicate in ways humans can experience and respond to. With connexion in mind, some weaknesses of previous reform efforts become apparent. I join these in the slogan "abolitionismas disconnexion." In so far as abolitionism draws humans and animals apart, it undermines the movement's social basis, limits its imaginative resources, and deprives animals of a deeper freedom. I evaluate political theories of animals and find that only some can frame a picture of humans and animals living together in connexion. I close by noting the limitations of the connexion lens-we cannot simply create connexions without also evaluating whether they are oppressive-and some practical policy measures that can be taken today to further the goods of connexion
Recommended Citation
John Enman-Beech, "Connexion: A Note on Praxis for Animal Advocates" (2017) 40:2 Dal LJ 545.
